Tonight Israel is playing Great Britain in a baseball elimination game in Brooklyn! Israel is a favorite in this level of competition. Also playing are Pakistan and Brazil. Hosted by the World Baseball Competition, this particular series of games over the upcoming weekend is part of an extensive series of double elimination games. Twelve teams which played in 2013 are already set to take part in March 2017. The last 4 qualifiers include Israel!
Most of the players on the teams are semi-pro. Check out this Facebook post courtesy of the Israel Association of Baseball. https://www.facebook.com/IABIsraelBaseball/ The games will be streamed on the website http://www.worldbaseballclassic.com/
It is exciting to see Israel nearly at the head of the class in yet another endeavor. Time and again, she distinguishes herself. We have grown accustomed to seeing her achievements in fields of engineering, aerospace research, medicine, robotics, hydrology and more. This weekend, just a week before Rosh Hashanah when we anticipate newness and achievement, we may see Israel excel, taking top honors and earning a place in the World Baseball Competition in March 2017.
Speaking of being at the head of the class, a phrase from this week’s Torah reading named Kee Tavo, comes to mind. “God will make you the head and not the tail” (Deut. 28:13). This overall parshah does not have anything specific to do with Rosh Hashanah. However, the thought that God wants us to succeed is very uplifting! What a compliment it is that God is going to make each of us a head! The fact that this verse is being read in Shuls all over the world as the Israel Baseball team prepares to make history nearly on Erev Rosh Hashanah may be more than coincidence!
Wow! May we all be the head and not the tail!
As you know, it is traditional to dip Challah or apples or both into honey at Rosh Hashanah mealtimes and say 'You are blessed God, for creating the bread which comes forth from the ground’ (or the apples which grow on trees)' and then say 'May this be a sweet new year.'
Thereafter, some Jews say ‘May we be the Rosh and not the tail.’
Shabbat Shalom
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